any places around the triangle that are really good. (ie not the places around that offer coupons)

also anyone here have it done before?

7/24/2006 6:47:02 PM

I had mine done (LASIK) in 1999 from this place - http://www.lowryeye.com/

7/24/2006 6:55:58 PM

how was it?
cost?
any side effects?

7/24/2006 7:03:01 PM

blindness.

7/24/2006 7:12:02 PM

wonder how many threads this makes on this same topic

7/24/2006 7:17:53 PM

Laser Eye Center on Cary Pkwy near Preston - Dr. Dean Dornik.

He did my eyes (Lasik) in May and my vision is absolutely perfect. Also, he did my mother's eyes a few years ago (PRK) and she has also had good results.

7/24/2006 8:13:08 PM

i got mine done at Duke a year ago and my mom got hers done at Duke by the same doctor, Dr. Carlson, 2 years ago
and its awesome

http://www.dukeeye.org/specialties/refractive/

7/24/2006 8:56:37 PM

Took less than 10 minutes.

Back then it was about $1900/eye. I have no idea what it costs now.

No side effects that I can tell. I see very well.

7/24/2006 10:28:31 PM

search lounge

I had PRK back in 2004 and I still see 20/15 in both eyes

7/24/2006 10:45:51 PM

http://www.carolinaeye.com/index.html

Had it done in Pinehurst, worth the travel, was a bit pricey, but the results are worth it, Dr. Martin did mine, a leader in the industry, there were people from all over the country in there the day I had mine done http://www.carolinaeye.com/dr/drmar.html

Speaking of which I think I need a touchup on my right eye... love every minute of not wearing glasses, which I had been doing since the age of 3.

the procedure was painless and done in less than 10 minutes, the healing took a while, but wasn't unbearable at all... i was driving about a day or two later

7/24/2006 10:47:19 PM

Dr. Christenbury is by far the most experienced in this state, but he's in Charlotte.

Otherwise, go to Duke, they offer a nice discount if you have the procedure done by a fellow, which is very much worth it.

7/25/2006 9:21:53 AM

anyone here thats had it done - how bad was your vision before?

my vision now is -4.00 on both sides and i forgot the rest, but my eye doctor keeps telling me that im never going to see better than 20/100 w/o glasses or contacts, even with the surgery, due to my astigmatism

[Edited on July 25, 2006 at 11:35 AM. Reason : ]

7/25/2006 11:34:40 AM

Before the surgery I had -6.25 for my contact lens prescription in both eyes. In order to have the surgery your prescription has to be stable... mine was unchanged for three years prior to getting the surgery. I also don't have an astigmatism, but your vision can still be corrected depending on how bad yours is. Also, you might not even be a candidate for any of the procedures, it depends largely on the thickness of your cornea.

7/25/2006 11:51:23 AM

Random ? here...

went in for an eye exam (hadn't had one in years) and the doctor said yeah, we're gonna put you in glasses. I said well... why don't we just skip all of that and just go with laser correction? She said I wasn't a good candidate b/c my eyes were very different strengths from each other.

My thinking though is that each eye is done separately so it shouldn't matter. Anyone else had a similar experience? I'm very cynical so I wonder if she was just trying to keep me as a consistent paying customer rather than lose me to an office that offers the surgery.

7/25/2006 2:19:57 PM

haha i'm cynical about shit like that too...the mechanic says 3000 miles before an oil change...read the fucking manual, and it usually either says 5000 or 7500

lying ass bastards...

7/25/2006 2:49:17 PM

Dr. Kelly at the Kelly Eye Center is one of the best around and has done over 20k surgeries. I had mine done there a few months ago and am extremely satisfied

7/25/2006 3:14:04 PM

Duke's Dept. of Ophthalmology ranks 8th in the nation.

7/25/2006 3:19:54 PM

I would definitely go with Duke around here.

7/25/2006 3:35:02 PM

With regard to eyes being different strengths...I have a coworker who wanted to get the surgery done, and they said she wasn't a candidate. She's almost legally blind in one eye, and her other eye isn't as bad, but is still blurry. I'm not sure what that's all about, though.

7/25/2006 3:39:41 PM

How much was the cost for those of you that has had it?

7/25/2006 4:06:49 PM

i was on the upper limits for mine, and had astigmatism in both eyes... cost for mine was around 4K total...

7/25/2006 4:18:46 PM

My dr said to do mine when I got to be 21, so a couple more months to go. My eyes are -10.5.

7/25/2006 4:49:23 PM

Quote :

"Otherwise, go to Duke, they offer a nice discount if you have the procedure done by a fellow, which is very much worth it."

haha body parts are usually things i want the best service possible for

7/25/2006 4:56:03 PM

I really want to get eye surgery, because I'm tired of paying $340 for sunsoft torics every 6 mths -and I don't even see great out of those - but for 2 years my eye doctor has told me, no way, with your astigmatism you'll never be able to have corrective eye surgery

[Edited on July 25, 2006 at 5:59 PM. Reason : ]

7/25/2006 5:52:02 PM

NCSULilWolf, that sounds like crap to me, they do both eyes in different instances and I'm quite sure it only takes a minute to calibrate the laser. My dad and step-mum both had the surgery a few months after me (I was the guinea pig) and they had different prescriptions in each eyes (I would say about a difference of -3 on the contact lens scale).

7/25/2006 6:39:44 PM

before surgery, I was -4.75 in both eyes. Now 20/20 and holding steady for 7 years now.

7/25/2006 6:40:58 PM

i was -4.5ish in both eyes before

my mom was something like -6.5 or -7, she was on the very verge of not being able to get it done, and had astigmatisms and shes been really happy with hers

7/25/2006 7:24:02 PM

I asked my eye doctor about it last year, and a lot of his advice runs counter to things being said in here. My left eye is considerably worse than my right, and my prescription has changed, albeit gradually, several times. Despite this, he said there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to have the procedure.

7/25/2006 7:41:50 PM

i had both of my eyes done in the same visit.

i saw 20/30 before (mild astigmatism), and i see 20/15 now. No halos or any other negative effects.

i had PRK, though (not LASIK). it hurt like hell, and the recovery took a while.

7/25/2006 8:08:10 PM

thanks Wraith and moonman... I'm just gonna keep asking until they tell me what I want to hear... haha jk, but I will ask around

7/25/2006 8:40:51 PM

TLC in Raleigh.

7/25/2006 8:45:51 PM

bttt

1/3/2008 2:51:39 PM

the worst part is smelling your burning cornea while the laser is on.

1/3/2008 2:56:59 PM

The Laser Eye center in Cary. Got custom done 05/2007 and have 20/15. Pretty awesome.

1/3/2008 2:59:18 PM

i'd love to get it done, but doctors won't even let me risk the health of my eye by wearing a contact. I'm about a -9.50. In other words, I can't see shit

1/3/2008 3:04:28 PM

anyone have a clue of how much it would cost to correct really bad astigmatism:

OD -.25 -4.00 X 021
OS plano -4.00 X 162

??

I went to a consultation 2 years ago and I was told that it would be impossible to correct my vision, but I'm sure theres new technology that could do it

1/3/2008 3:10:29 PM

Quote :

"Speaking of which I think I need a touchup on my right eye."

What does this mean?

I would never want to spend 4k to get eye surgery, and then have to turn around and get it again a few years down the road

I've had the same prescription for about 3 years, but noticing a slight blur...i'm going in about 2 weeks for another eye exam, and i'll see I guess

I've always thought about getting this surgery though, I hate contacts and glasses.

I have astigmatism as well, so I might not even be a candidate

and I would give anything to have 20/15 in both eyes...that would be amazing

[Edited on January 3, 2008 at 3:44 PM. Reason : .]

1/3/2008 3:33:28 PM

Quote :

"i'd love to get it done, but doctors won't even let me risk the health of my eye by wearing a contact. I'm about a -9.50. In other words, I can't see shit "

Just tell em to call you AFTER they screw someone up. I mean its like 1/500 chance now, so if you go in right after a bad one, you'll be straight right?

Or just go to a new doctor and dont tell him/her you have a glass eye. Just make sure you get the good eye done first or you may end up catching something on fire

1/3/2008 3:36:18 PM

^ haha I wish. and I wouldn't even let an eye doctor be in the same room with me if he wasn't competent enough to spot a glass eye.

1/3/2008 3:39:02 PM

Some FAQs from Kelly Eye Center:

Quote :

"LASIK Questions Commonly Asked Questions How do I find out if I'm a candidate? LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It does not change the need for reading glasses. We provide free screenings to check your prescription to determine if laser vision correction is right for you. Following a screening, a comprehensive evaluation will be scheduled which includes a refraction, dilated exam, mapping of the cornea, measuring corneal thickness and a thorough retinal exam. Is LASIK safe? Yes, it is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon. Studies show that less than 1% of LASIK patients experience a vision decrease after laser surgery. A small number of patients may require a second laser treatment to achieve their best outcome. Dr. Kelly has performed all forms of micro-surgical eye care and combines uncommon skill as a surgeon with a genuine concern for the well being of his patients. What kind of results can a patient expect? The goal of LASIK doctors is to correct your vision to 20/40 which will allow you to enjoy everyday activities without the hassles of contacts or glasses. To get the best idea of what you can expect from your laser vision treatment, it's important that you schedule an appointment with the doctor for your evaluation. Does LASIK hurt? Numbing eye drops are used and should make the treatment painless. In rare cases, some patients express mild discomfort. A mild sedative is also given to help with relaxation. Don't worry - no needles or intravenous drugs are used. What if I move my eye or blink during the procedure? During the procedure, a specially designed tool is used to hold your eyelid open which prevents you from blinking. The surgeon has complete control of the laser at all times and will instruct you and inform you of the process step by step. If the need should arise, the surgeon can stop the procedure and begin again when you are ready. How long does the surgery take? The actual surgery is performed in our office and takes approximately 10 minutes (5 minutes per eye). You'll need to arrive 45 minutes prior to meet with the refractive counselor who will administer a mild sedative, answer any last minute questions, consent forms/paperwork and scrub for surgery. Allow 1 ½ - 2 hours total for the entire office visit. What should I expect the following day? Most patient return to work 1 to 2 days after surgery. You will notice a dramatic improvement within the first 24 hours and your vision should continue to improve for the first 1 to 2 weeks. You will need to arrange to be seen the day after surgery for your first follow up visit. What side effects will I have after surgery? You can expect your vision to be blurry the first day but it will begin to get better each day. Side effects will vary per individual; some patients may experience side effects including: blurred vision, sensitivity to light, redness, scratchy, watery, dry or irritated eyes. Some patients may also experience difficulty with night driving (i.e. glare or halos); these issues typically subside 6-8 weeks after the procedure. Will I need glasses after LASIK? In general, patients under 40 years of age read well without glasses following the treatment. Patients over 40 may need magnification for reading fine print. Presbyopia is the term that refers to the natural weakening of the focusing muscles hat occurs in our early to mid 40s, causing us to need the magnification that reading glasses to provide. The LASIK treatment does not correct or prevent presbyopia. "

1/3/2008 4:21:02 PM

I went to Carolina Eye as well. I went to get lasik but my cornea was too thin so I had to get PRK. Recovery was terrible. I was on the couch for 4 days and hardly moved. Now I'm 20/15 left, 20/25 right. Definitely worth it.
btw, after your initial payment, all other visits/touch ups are free.

1/3/2008 4:30:04 PM

what is a "touch-up"?

1/3/2008 4:40:38 PM

if your vision changes down the road, they'll correct them again (if possible) with the 'touch-ups'

certainly, if your eyes are still changing most doctors wouldn't recommend the corrective surgery -- but it's possible for them to seem to have stabilized but still change after the procedure...

1/3/2008 5:00:10 PM

my sister had that done

1/3/2008 5:44:44 PM

Are these being covered by insurance yet?

1/3/2008 8:11:14 PM

Quote :

"I would never want to spend 4k to get eye surgery, and then have to turn around and get it again a few years down the road"

Eh it's only 4K

1/3/2008 8:13:02 PM

most insurance companies nowadays cover a small percentage - around 10-15% typically

1/3/2008 9:06:12 PM

Quote :

"TLC in Raleigh"

1/3/2008 9:28:32 PM

ugh, my insurance doesn't cover any lasik

guess i'll wait till my next job, or about 6 pay raises, lol

1/4/2008 8:40:18 AM

I had it done and love it. It was one of the greatest things/investments I've been done in my opinion. I love not having to worry about glasses or contacts anymore...or at least until I am older.

1/4/2008 12:00:31 PM